Fuel pump apparatus and method



Dec. 18, 195 1 F. s. THOMAS, JR 2,579,023

FUEL PUMP APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed April 50, 1948 /6 ff H A 2/ m CHRBURETOR fie ,23 I

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Patented Dec. 18, 1951 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Frank S. Thomas, Jr St. Louis, ll/Io assignor to" Development Corporation, Inc., St. Louis, Mo., acorporation of Missouri Application April 30, 1948, Serial'No. 24,240

- The present invention relates generally to gaso line motors, and the like, and more particularly to a fuel pump for gasoline motors, and the like, utilizing crankcase pressure to move gasoline from a tank to a carburetor, and to a method of moving gasoline from a tank to a carburetor.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel method for moving gasoline from a tank to a carburetor through use of crankcase pressure.

Another object is to provide a novel fuel pump which utilizes the pressure in the crankcase to lift gasoline from a tank to a carburetor.

Another object is to provide a novel fuel pump whichis free of moving parts with the exception of a simple one-way valve.

Another object is to provide a novelfuel pump which utilizes the pressure in the crankcase to lift gasoline from a tank to a carburetor, and in which gasoline and oil mist in the crankcase is transferred to the gasoline tank and into the gasoline for subsequent return to the engine explosion chamber. I

Another object is to provide a novel method of positively lifting gasoline from a tank to a carburetor through utilization of normally waste power generated by the engine With which the carburetor is associated.

Other objects are to provide a novel fuel pump for gasoline engines, or the like, which is simple in construction, which is highly eificient in operation, which is adapted to function indefinitely without repair or maintenance, which is inexpensive, which may be installed on existing gasoline motors or built into new units, which is easy to service, and which is positive in gasoline lifting operation.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages are apparent from the following description taken with the accompanying drawing, in

which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of an application of the present invention to gasoline engine, carburetor, and gasoline tank;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged View of the crankcase takeoff and Fig. 3 is a further enlarged view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing more particularly by reference numerals, in Fig. 1 are diagrammatically shown a gasoline engine I0, a carburetor l2, and a gasoline tank 14.

The engine l includes the usual block l6 and a head [8, the block 16 being formed with a crankcase 20 and one or more cylinders 2|. In

dClaiins. (o1. fies-e136),

each cylinder 2| is a piston 23 having rings 24 and mounted on a piston arm 25 pivotally carried by a crankshaft 26. A spark plug 27 is mounted in the head I8.

Leading from the crankcase 20 through the wall of the block 16 is'a threaded opening 29 which threadedly receives a valve 30. The valve 33 may be of any selected type which opens under pressure from within the crankcase 120 and is closed against-back pressure, and is shown as a simple spring loaded valve. An internally threaded cup element 32 has a threaded extension 33 engaging the opening 29, a bore 34 extending therethrough. A second internally threaded cup element 35 having a bore 36 is threaded into the first cup element 32. Between the cup elements 32 and 35 is a valve disc 31 and a compression spring 38. A tube 39 threads into the cup element 35, the other end of the tube 39 leading into the gasoline tank [4 near the bottom at 40. The opening 29 is the only pressure relief opening for the crankcase 20.

A tube 4| leads from within the tank I4 to the carburetor I2 for supplying gasoline thereto. A small tube 42 leads from the top of the tank l4 into an air intake 43 of the carburetor l2. A cap 44 is provided for closing the usual filling opening of the tank [4. An intake manifold 45 connects the carburetor I2 and the space or spaces above the piston or pistons 23.

In operation, explosion gases within the cylinder or cylinders 2| leak past the rings 24 of the piston or pistons 23 into the crankcase 20, as is well known. A pressure builds up which normally is vented to atmosphere through the oil filled tube, or otherwise. In the present invention, the pressure is vented through the valve 30 and tube 39 to the gasoline tank [4, the valve 30 permitting the oil-gasoline vapor in the crankcase to exhaust, but preventing return, as is obvious.

Pressure builds up in the tank I4 and lifts gasoline 46 to the carburetor l2. Excess gases pass by the small tube 42 into the air intake 43 and thence into the carburetor l2, and, thus, the oil-gasoline vapor is fully utilized. The tube 42 also serves to bleed off excess pressure in the tank M. The major portion of oil-gasoline vapor mixes with the gasoline 46 as it enters from the point 40. This added oil is advantageous.

Pressure begins to build up in the tank [4 after a few explosions of the engine It]. For the starting period, there is more than enough gasoline in the carburetor l2 from the previous run of the engine It].

Manifestly, there have been provided a novel method of and apparatus for lifting gasoline from a tank to a carburetor which fulfill the objects and advantages sought therefor.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description and the accompanying drawing have been given by way of illustration and example. It is also to be understood that changes in form of the severalparts, substitution of equivalent elements or steps, and rearrangement of parts or steps, which will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art, are contemplated as within the scope of the present invention, which is limited only by the claims which follow. j

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a gasoline engine, its associated carburetor and gasoline tank, of a conduit leading from the crankcase of the engine into the gasoline tank venting the former into the latter for lifting the gasoline to the carburetor, the lead of said conduit into the crankcase of the engine comprising the sole opening thereinto exclusive of cylinder wells.

2. In combination with a gasoline engine, its associated carburetor and gasolinetank, of a conduit leading from the crankcase of the engine into the gasoline tank venting the former into the latter for lifting the gasoline to the carburetor, the lead of said conduit into the crankcase of the engine comprising the sole opening thereinto exclusivev of cylinder wells, and a oneway valvev in the conduit permitting gas exhaust from the crankcase 3. In combination with a gasoline engine, its associated carburetor andv gasoline tank, of a conduit leading from the crankcase of the engine into the gasoline tank venting the former into the latter for lifting the gasoline to the oarburet0r. the lead of said conduit into the crankcase of the engine comprising the sole opening thereinto exclusive of cylinder wells, a one-way valve in the conduit permitting gas exhaust from the crankcase, and a relief conduit leading from'the tank into the carburetor to exhaust excess pressure and to utilize the exhausted oil-gasoline vapor.

4. In a gasoline engine, a method of lifting gasoline from a tank to a carburetor comprising venting the crankcase of the engine of explosion gases into. the tank, and forcing the gasoline from the tank to the carburetor exclusively by the pressure of explosion gases thus built up therein.

5. In a gasoline engine, a method of lifting gasoline from a tank to a carburetor comprising venting the crankcase of the engine of explosion gases into the tank, forcing the gasoline from the tank to the carburetor exclusively by the pressure of explosion gases thus built up therein, and venting the tank of excess pressure into the air stream supplied the carburetor.

FRANK S. THOMAS, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 583,399 Lewis May 25,1897 1,138,581 Shumaker May 4, 1915 

